Kindergartens agree to cancel nationwide general strikes

By Lim Chang-won Posted : September 15, 2017, 18:02 Updated : September 15, 2017, 18:02

[Yonhap News Photo]


South Korean working moms heaved a sigh of relief as thousands of private kindergartens agreed to cancel a planned general strike at talks with government officials.

The agreement came at a meeting between Vice Education Minister Park Choon-ran and representatives from an association of some 4,100 private kindergartens. It's not known immediately how Park talked down kindergarten operators who have demanded greater financial support to ride out their financial crisis caused by a chronic low birthrate.

The private kindergartens had called for a one-day general strike on September 18 and a five-day work stoppage from September 25, warning of more trouble unless their demands are met.

Both public schools and private schools receive state funding, although private schools get less. Working moms prefer state schools because of higher subsidies, but they have to go through fierce competition. Public kindergartens care about 24 percent of all pupils. Private schools want equal treatment and oppose a government plan to build more state-run facilities.

For years, South Korea has taken a series of measures to tackle its fast aging population and a low birthrate which would hurt Asia's fourth-largest economy. Various government incentives including cash rewards have been offered to have more children, but an increasing number of women work and want to hold onto their career, leading them to delay marriage and have children late.

Education ministry data showed The number of students attending kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools fell 2.5 percent on-year to 6.46 million as of April 1 this year.

 
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